Flotation process



Patented Sept. 17, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SHERWIN P. LOWE, OF DENVER, COLORADO, ASSIGNOR TO B. H. CKANNING, AGENT, OF DENVER, COLORADO FLOTATION PROCESS No Drawing.

My invention relates to the concentration of ores by oil flotation, and has particularly in view the obtaining of higher grade concentrates from complex ores containing copper or lead and zinc. In the flotation concentra tion of such ores, soluble salts such as copper sulphate or ferrous sulphate, are often present, either in the water, in the ore, or released during grinding or the preparation o t the ore. These soluble salts interfere with the proper selective action of the froths. This condition can be partially overcome by the addition of lime, but may be almost entirely overcome by the addition of zinc oxide in suitable quantities'which acts as a precipitant for the objectionable salts-in addition to the other reagents commonly used in flotation.

An example of the effect of zinc oxide is as follows:

An ore assaying 1.9% Cu, 4.6% Zn, and 30% iron was ground With-4 lbs. CaO per ton and one part of Water, and these placed in a flotation machine and .1 lb. pine oil and .1 lb. zanthate, per ton of ore, was added, and a copper concentrate was removed. The results were as follows:

Per cent Zn The same ore was treated in the same manner, except that 2 lbs., per ton of ore, of zinc oxide was added to the ore before grinding, the results were:

Per cent Cu Cu concentrates 17.0 Tailings .3

Per cent Zn Application filed larch 28, 1928. Serial No. 264,965.

froth flotation comprising the step of add-- ing a small quantity of zmc oxide, in addition to other well known oils and reagents, to the pulp to obtain higher grade concentrelites by overcoming the effect of soluble sa ts.

5. The process of concentrating complex ores containing zinc and one of the metals of the group comprising copper and lead by froth flotation, comprising the step of adding approximately 2 lbs. of zinc oxide, in addition to other well known oils and reagents,

to the pulp to decompose the soluble salts and to increase the efliciency of-the flotation agent.

In testimony whereof, I affix my si nature.

SHERWIN P. L WE. 

